SteVo+ 3,702 Posted May 3, 2015 Knights of Andreas Part III Based on Characters Created by: badgers Bangy Barracuda Bay BigBen07 BwareDware94 Chernobyl426 DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F eightnine FartWaffles Favre4Ever JetsFan4Life Maverick monstersofthemidway OAK RazorStar RevisFan81 Sarge seanbrock SteVo Thanatos19 theMileHighGuy Vin Zack_of_Steel Chapter Twenty-Seven – Familiar Faces Sunday, September 8. Three days after the Denver Broncos beat defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, twenty teams count down to one o’ clock Eastern Time, kicking off ten games and starting the 2013 season. One game takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium, where the home fans gear up for what they believe will be a great season for their Colts. Coming off a 10-6 season that reached the playoffs, expectations are sky high. In the visitors’ locker room, things are not so clear. The Los Angeles Knights dress in their away uniforms—black helmets, white jerseys, black pants, with purple trim and a sleek, postmodern look—as the red digits on the clock above count towards kickoff. Players stand ready, mostly quiet, when their head coach appears. The chatter dies, and everyone takes a knee. Merle Harden surveys his players in total silence. This is a moment everyone in the organization has anticipated especially, even for the first game of a new season. It’s been nine months, two weeks, and one day since the Knights blew what should have been a playoff season and saw their head coach get fired in the aftermath. “We know what we need to do,” Harden says. “We know who we want to be, and we know how we want to play. Let’s make sure we do it.” He turns and marches toward the tunnel that leads to the field. The players hesitate before finding their feet and following. A few let out half-hearted screams and rah-rah statements. Wide receiver Da’Jamiroquai Jefferspin-Wilkes stands next to his quarterback, Jonathan Maverick, on their way out. “Well, that was fucking inspiring,” Wilkes says. Exactly two weeks after Chance Phillips and Wayne Schneider explain their decision to fire Caden Daniel, they hold another press conference in the same room, with Daniel’s replacement occupying the middle of the podium. Unlike last time, Adam Javad proudly takes a seat near the front. His status among his colleagues has elevated considering his recent work. While most Knights beat writers speculated endlessly about the head coaching carousel and wave of interviews with candidates, Javad insisted the Knights “felt really good” about in-house candidate Merle Harden, and when the decision finally came down, Javad was the first to break the news. Schneider delivers a throat-clearing introduction and turns it over to Phillips, who describes the Knights’ interview process and thanks all candidates who interviewed. He details Harden’s work in the NFL as a defensive coordinator and immaculate leadership, concluding with an emphasis on continuity and familiarity. “Our players are getting a familiar face,” Phillips says. “They know what to expect in terms of how we will play football and how we will carry ourselves as an organization. So, at this time, I’d like to introduce the new Los Angeles Knights head football coach, Merle Harden.” Harden takes over and it becomes clear he’s a man of few words. His speech lasts less than sixty seconds before he takes questions. Not a fan of this sort of limelight, he looks forward to moving on with business—and taking off his suit and tie. Phillips glances sideways at Harden as he answers questions and notices Schneider is not doing the same; his eyes fixate on Phillips instead. No surprise. When Schneider let Phillips hire the Knights’ next coach, Harden was probably the last candidate on his mind, especially considering the other coaches they interviewed. But that’s what he gets for firing Daniel in the first place. The entire press conference lasts twenty-two minutes, and the three men walk out through a nearby door, back into the working area of team headquarters. “Congratulations again, coach,” Phillips says. They shake hands for the eightieth time. “Thanks for the opportunity, Chance.” “Now, unfortunately, we don’t have time for champagne. We need to talk about free agency and work on dialogue with guys we want to re-sign.” “Well, let’s get to it, then,” Harden says, throwing off his suit jacket and undoing his tie. “Wayne,” Phillips says, “care to join us?” “Absolutely,” Schneider says, eyeing Phillips intensely. Phillips nods, disappointed but not surprised. Schneider typically leaves in these situations to soak up more press, but circumstances are different this time, and just as Phillips anticipated, Schneider isn’t going anywhere. Harden watches from the sideline, dressed comfortably in a purple polo and black slacks, as his offense mounts its first drive of 2013. Though it will probably take time to figure out exactly what type of head coach he is, he already knows how he approaches the offense. Maverick relays play calls from offensive coordinator Tom Everett, returning for the final year of his contract with the team after receiving a modest raise for assuming play-calling duties. A disciple of Daniel, Everett has never called plays at the pro level, but he learned a lot from Daniel and showed Knights management enough creativity and initiative of his own to warrant the job. Maverick hands off to starting running back Jerome Jaxson, who cuts upfield for two yards, and the Knights go through the first of many cycles: huddle, play call, line up. Second and eight. Maverick drops back to pass. His primary reads are all covered. Stepping up, he feels pressure and looks to tight end Zach Miller for a dump-off, but Miller doesn’t break off coverage. Maverick tucks the ball and runs forward, sliding down for a two-yard gain. Colts fans get loud for third and six. In shotgun, Maverick surveys the defense. It looks like cover two, so he’ll need to connect on something short. Analyzing his matchups, Maverick feels pessimistic. He and the Knights miss Logan Bishop in situations like this. He takes the snap and looks inside to Alex Johnson, who breaks on an in route. Maverick hits him in stride, but Johnson can’t separate from his corner and goes down a yard short of the first down. Without much consideration, Harden orders the punt team out, and the offense jogs back to the sideline. The afternoon heat feels just as relentless the second week of training camp, the dog days of preparing for football season. Logan Bishop soaks in the sun and runs more routes, practicing with his offense. He comes off the line and runs a post route up the middle. He looks, and the quarterback fires high. Bishop leaps and hauls it in. “Nice catch, Logan,” the coach says. A new play-caller, a new playbook, and a new offense haven’t stopped Bishop from having a great offseason so far. His cautious optimism about the upcoming season is slowly growing into excitement. Into the second quarter, Andrew Luck marches his offense down the field against a Knights defense that has played well, despite trailing, 10-3. Harden coaches his defense as he has the last three years for the Knights. The front office suggested he name a defensive coordinator to succeed him, a useless idea he rejected immediately. He still calls the plays; nothing has changed on defense. Third and three. Harden decides against a blitz, knowing a four-man rush should get past Indy’s offensive line. Luck takes the snap and looks right. Cornerback Malik Rose covers Reggie Wayne downfield, with help from free safety Griswold “Flash” Johnson. Under pressure, Luck lobs the ball over the middle and somehow finds Dwayne Allen for a first down. Harden subs his basic 3-4 personnel back in for first down. Luck hands off to Ahmad Bradshaw up the middle. Inside linebacker Dan Connor bursts through a hole and crushes Bradshaw for no gain, generating awes from the crowd and praise from his teammates. From the sideline, Marlon Martin, Connor’s backup, watches and waits. It’s April, and Marlon Martin doesn’t have a new contract yet. He’s been a free agent for almost a month and is beyond worrying. Martin has received multiple offers, with several teams finally considering him good enough to play inside linebacker. His service in Los Angeles has paid off. The top offer on the table, though, is from Los Angeles: two years, five million. This has been the best offer for weeks now, but Martin’s agent insists on holding out for more. Martin has had enough. His 31st birthday is coming up, so the window for a grand payday has probably passed. He has accepted that, but he wants to pick a team already. He calls his agent. “Hello, Marlon! Good to hear—” “Call the Knights. We’re going to accept their offer.” “Marlon, I know you’re impatient, but as I’ve said—” “It’s been long enough. I want to sign a contract. Today.” “If the Knights say you’re going to get even reps with Connor, then they have to pay you Connor’s contract. Three million per year or no deal.” “This isn’t me being impatient, this is you being incompetent. I appreciate you trying to maximize my earnings, I really do, but we’ve stretched this out long enough. Either you accept the Knights’ offer or I find an agent who will.” No noise comes from the other side of the line. The call ends, Martin waits around a bit, and his agent calls back, finally with good news. Martin gets on a plane and flies to Los Angeles, happy to rejoin Coach Harden, who has promised him an open competition with Connor for a starting position. And with Connor’s injury history, Martin sees himself as the favorite. He lands in Los Angeles, catches a taxi to Knights headquarters, meets his asshole agent, signs the contract, and Marlon Martin is a Knight through 2014. Already on the edge of field goal range inside a dome (nearby rain forced the retractable roof closed before kickoff), the Colts offense lines up for second and seven. From the edge, outside linebacker Zack Grantzinger surges toward right tackle Gosder Cherilus, gets by him easily, and hits Luck after he releases the pass, which lands incomplete. Grantzinger has been all over the place today, as he intends to be all year. Whatever apprehension he had about the uneasiness of a contract season vanished when he walked into training camp the benefactor of a massive contract extension. The thought of going from fourth round draft pick to set for life in just three seasons is still a shock, but it’s easy to forget when there’s football to play. Coach Harden calls a blitz for third down. Grantzinger shows blitz, then backs off, leaving defensive end Sam Luck alone on the edge. Luck is in a contract year, but he’s focused instead on bringing down the quarterback who shares his name—for the moment, anyway. Andrew Luck takes the snap from shotgun, and Grantzinger cuts back to rush inside. Despite the deception, he finds himself double-teamed, unable to get close to Luck, who stands in the pocket for an eternity and finds T.Y. Hilton for a fifteen-yard strike, putting the Colts in the red zone. As the crowd cheers, Grantzinger stares down fellow outside linebacker, first-round rookie Jamari Price. The kid has gotten zero pass rush today, and Grantzinger can only think about Sean Brock, who certainly would have planted Luck a few times by now with all the attention Grantzinger is getting. The Knights line up to face first and ten, and Grantzinger prepares to drop back and cover the flat. Luck takes the snap and sits behind another clean pocket. Grantzinger picks up his man in coverage, keeping his eyes on Luck. Still with all day to throw, he fires toward the back of the end zone, splitting the arms of two defenders to find Reggie Wayne. Touchdown, Colts. The dome rocks with celebration as the Knights return to the sideline. “Gotta do better than that, boys,” inside linebacker and defensive captain Briggs Randall says. “Gotta do better.” “Where’s the goddamn pass rush?” Coach Harden bellows. Grantzinger’s eyes fall on Price, whose lack of ability probably just cost the team a touchdown. He’s ready to say something, but Harden crouches down in front of the rookie. “Relax, Jamari,” Harden says. “Don’t ever play this game scared. You have the talent to get past those guys. Use it. Understood?” “Yes, sir,” Price says. Harden nods and walks back toward the field. Adam Vinatieri’s extra point sails through, and Grantzinger looks up at the scoreboard: 17-3, Colts, 6:50 to play in the second quarter. As he rests, other teammates shower Price with encouragement. The kid is talented, no doubt, and could develop into an unstoppable pass rusher one day, but he’s too raw right now. And right now, the Knights need help. Grantzinger knows Brock will retake the starting job when he comes back, but four games suddenly seems a lot to endure. From his Hollywood high-rise apartment half a mile from Sunset Boulevard, Sean Brock takes in the cool, March air. The lights of Los Angeles darken the sky overhead. It is a beautiful night, for multiple reasons. Dressed in his shiny gray suit and purple silk tie, Brock leaves the apartment en route to Knights headquarters. Free agency has been a wild ride for him, starting as a disappointment without elite money rolling in. According to Drew Rosenhaus, Brock’s agent, several teams were apprehensive about signing a player facing a four-game suspension to open the season. But in the NFL, there’s always a market for pass rush. A bidding war escalated yesterday with, surprisingly, the Knights offering the top deal. They didn’t seem to want Brock back initially, but maybe they were just waiting to pounce and get their man. Brock can respect that. And he can’t argue with the final numbers: four years, 26.3 million. Twenty-six million, three hundred thousand dollars. Eleven million guaranteed. Brock could sign the contract, retire, and ride off into the sunset with eleven million. He doesn’t want to do that, of course, but the paycheck is even more satisfying than he imagined, and it means he’s got a great offseason lined up. In the wake of his DUI, he’s taking a cab or limousine everywhere, which only lets him party harder. After a traffic-filled ride to headquarters, Brock strolls in as if he just bought the team, shakes hands with decision-makers wearing cheaper suits, signs his name on the dotted line, and Sean Brock is a Knight through 2016. Jaxson jukes a linebacker, cuts upfield, and leaps through multiple defenders, getting a first down just past midfield. Jaxson tosses the ball to the nearby official and screams in celebration. Now the Knights’ feature back, he looks forward to more runs like that this year. Coach Everett even said he wanted Jaxson to return fewer punts so he could get more touches out of the backfield, and he wasn’t about to argue. Maverick calls the play in the huddle, desperate to reach the end zone here, trailing 20-10. This is the Knights’ second drive of the third quarter, and Everett’s adjustments seem to be working. Under center, Brian Penner snaps the ball on first and ten and surges forward. The Colts’ defensive front gets pushed back, and Jaxson gets four yards before being touched on his way to a nine-yard gain. On second and one, Penner hears another play he likes. He snaps to Maverick and outmuscles defenders again. Next to him, left guard Chase Grodd also dominates Indianapolis’ helpless run defense. Jaxson gets another six yards, and the Knights have a new set of downs in field goal range. Though it’s not his place to say, Penner feels the Knights have been too cute with play-calling today. They’re capable of dominating up the Colts up front, needing only to run it down their throats until they stop it. And with this offensive line, it’ll be awhile before that happens. Grodd has similar feelings, though he’s more focused on his personal performance. Now with a year of experience under his belt, he hopes for a year where he can improve in pass protection. For the moment, however, his run blocking is just as ferocious as it was at Iowa. Sucking for air, Jaxson trots toward the bench, spelled by Marcus Jameson. Maverick fakes a handoff to Jameson and looks deep. Wilkes and Johnson are covered. Seeing no options, Maverick dumps it off to Miller, who catches it, lines up a defender, and goes down for a meager two-yard gain. Second and eight. Maverick looks deep to Wilkes again, but he’s covered. He looks to Johnson on a post route and throws—a safety is too close. Antoine Bethea dives for the interception, but the underthrown ball grazes the artificial turf first. Maverick lets out a sigh of relief. Disaster averted. Third and eight. Though within Sebastian Janikowski’s range, the Knights are thinking touchdown. Everett calls one of his favorite plays, with all receivers running favorable, intermediate routes. Maverick studies the defense and takes the snap from shotgun. Blitz. He looks to Miller on a seam—covered. Johnson on a cross—covered. Out of time, he heaves it downfield for Wilkes, finally in single coverage. But the hurried pass sails out of bounds, and the Knights settle for a field goal attempt. Maverick nearly destroys equipment on the sideline, frustrated at another floundered drive. Despite all the preparation to prevent it, the Knights offense can’t overcome the gap created by Logan Bishop’s absence. If they couldn’t solve it by now, they likely won’t be able to until next week, at least. Get well soon, Logan. With the second half ticking down, the Knights’ first-team offense enjoys one last drive before halftime, leading 21-3. Their third preseason game, which players and coaches treat as a warm-up for week one, has gone perfectly. The defense has been suffocating, and the offense has already put up three touchdowns on a very talented Cardinals defense. Maverick calls a hot route from the line of scrimmage. Tight end Logan Bishop hears it and adjusts accordingly, jogging to the opposite side of the formation. He bolts off the line for the snap and runs a crossing route over the middle. Maverick hits him in stride, and Bishop wrangles his man off him, seeing green grass ahead. Karlos Dansby dives and brings him down awkwardly. Bishop feels a sharp pain in his ankle. He tries to get up, but he can’t put any weight on his left leg. Nearby teammates help him up and trainers rush out onto the scene. Though the Arizona crowd doesn’t react, many players and coaches on the Knights sideline watch Bishop closely. Maverick, in particular, doesn’t like seeing his favorite receiver hobble off the field. When he gets to the bench, Bishop tries to catch his breath. Before long, however, trainers order him to the locker room for an x-ray. This certainly isn’t the way he envisioned capping off such a successful night. Hours later, the Knights’ medical staff delivers their consensus that Bishop suffered a severe ankle sprain. His recovery timetable is uncertain, as is his status for week one. 27-20, Colts, 6:12 to play in the fourth quarter. Colts ball from their own thirty. The Knights defense gets ready for what has to be a stop. Their offense has finally found rhythm, and if they can get them the ball back, they can tie this thing and send it into overtime. Briggs Randall stares down Indy’s offense, ready to stop the run. Luck hands off to Donald Brown, and Randall surges ahead through an apparent hole. He gets stuffed, and Brown runs ahead a few yards before Marlon Martin tackles him, halting the gain to three. “Great play, Marlon!” Randall shouts. “Let’s go, boys! We need this one!” Randall relays the second and ten call and keeps up the motivation. His teammates have lacked intensity all day—inexcusable for the first game of the season—and will need to find it to win this game. In the secondary, Griswold Johnson prepares to cover center field. Nobody has gotten behind him today, and nobody will. He enjoys a greater role in the Knights’ secondary now that Chet Ripka is gone, though it’s not like Ripka was covering deep-threat receivers anyway. Andrew Luck drops back to pass. He hits Coby Fleener on a quick out route, and Grantzinger brings him down immediately, bringing up third and six. Harden considers a blitz, knowing that Luck will have an eternity to pass otherwise. He makes his decision and radios the call to Randall. Luck lines up in shotgun again. Grantzinger and Price mount the edge, ready to blitz. The safeties creep up too, though it’s Martin who’s really coming. Luck takes the snap. Grantzinger tries a bull rush but gets forced outside. Martin gets deflected and Luck steps up to avoid him. In the secondary, Johnson sees T.Y. Hilton running over the middle. Luck looks to him as he cuts to the corner—he jukes back toward the middle. Beaten, Johnson sprints ahead to catch Hilton, who runs for a long pass. Johnson dives for him, lands short, and knocks out the Knights’ strong safety in the process. Hilton runs free for a touchdown. 34-20, Colts. Lucas Oil Stadium rocks for the dagger, and for a team about to be 1-0. Coach Harden watches his defense sulk off the field. Randall slams his helmet against the bench as he takes a seat. For Harden, and probably for his team also, this feels all too familiar, another fourth quarter disappointment. Though he tries to focus on the game, victory not out of reach yet, Harden can’t help but wonder what Daniel would do or say in this situation. Chance Phillips and the rest of Knights management go through another day of scouting for free agency. Merle Harden has been head coach about forty-eight hours, and many hours of work remain if the Knights are going to have a productive offseason. After discussing potential targets at defensive end, everyone agrees on a stopping point as lunch arrives. Conversation bounces between several topics, some football related, some not. Along the way, someone mentions Caden Daniel’s name, and everyone clams up. “It’s alright, guys,” Phillips says. “We don’t have to make that the elephant in the room.” “Excuse me,” says Paul DeMartine, director of pro personnel and assistant general manager, “have to take a call.” “Daniel helped move this franchise forward,” Phillips continues, eyeing Wayne Schneider. “Now, hopefully, we can take the next step. Right, Merle?” “Absolutely,” Harden says, mouth full of cheeseburger. “I will take this team as far as it can go, I promise you all that.” “I didn’t mean to say Daniel didn’t do that,” Phillips says. “As I said, he was a good coach. Things didn’t work out the way we thought they would [another glare at Schneider], but it is what it is. I have nothing but respect for him as a coach, and I wish him well, wherever he ends up.” “I wouldn’t go that far,” DeMartine says, reentering the room with his phone in hand. “Caden Daniel, San Diego Chargers head coach. Four minutes ago.” Everyone takes in the news, considering the ramifications for the Knights. “Well,” Phillips says, “looking forward to when the schedule comes out.” Two thousand miles from Lucas Oil Stadium, the atmosphere at Knight’s End dies down as the final seconds tick away on team team’s first game of the season. After the way last season ended and everything that’s happened this offseason, starting the year 0-1 hurts worse than it should. “We suck,” Jay Cooper says, finishing his beer and scanning for someone to bring the next round of two-for-ones. “Told you there’s no way we’d beat the Colts.” “We could have made it interesting if not for that big touchdown to Wayne,” Cassie Sampson says, chugging a beer of his own so much that some of it drips down his beard. Occupying a high top in the middle of the bar, the two seem an unlikely pair. Sampson’s new, white #81 “Jefferspin-Wilkes” Knights jersey contrasts with Cooper’s worn, black #32 “Allen” Raiders jersey that looks like it hasn’t been washed in decades. “Gotta get Bishop back,” Sampson says. “Mav needs that checkdown option.” “Yeah, because he sucks. We should have traded up and gotten Luck when we had the chance.” Cooper’s concentration on the television screens breaks when a new round of beers arrives. He grabs one immediately. “Well, 0-16, here we come.” 11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted May 3, 2015 (edited) KoA is back! Feels good, man. The tension between Phillips and Schneider is going to reach nuclear proportions before long. Can't wait to see how Part III shapes up. Looks like a great start! Edit: lol @ Cassie Sampson. Edited May 3, 2015 by Sarge Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted May 3, 2015 This season is gonna end with Wayne Schneider bleeding in a gutter while Chance Phillips whispers "No." 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bangy 19 Posted May 3, 2015 Feature back time, tenstion in management, and the Daniels being the new coach of a rival. This will be interesting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted May 3, 2015 (edited) I miss GA, we need to bring him in to coach up our DB's at some point. Oh and good job with the chapter and stuff. I'd + you but I used up all my positive rep last night while drunk. Edited May 3, 2015 by seanbrock Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barracuda 629 Posted May 3, 2015 You guys are awful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014 Posted May 3, 2015 Great chapter. I liked the line about Grantzinger being ready to say something, but seeing Harden doing it and relenting. Also, I was not fooled by the "times like this we miss Logan Bishop", but nice try. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted May 3, 2015 Harden clamming up under pressure? What an asshole. He's got one liners galore when he's a coordinator but can't muster anything to lead a team? I'm looking forward to seeing his growth...or utter destruction. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigBen07 285 Posted May 3, 2015 YES! Was looking forward to this! Excellent opening! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bangy 19 Posted May 3, 2015 YES! Was looking forward to this! Excellent opening! Mav sucks time to carry this team on the ground Ben Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted May 6, 2015 (edited) Hump Day/Bump Day Hope you guys enjoyed the first installment, and thanks for reading! Edited May 6, 2015 by SteVo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites